Bordeaux Sauce

The flavor team

The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.

1. Celery + mustardtop 2% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together4,169 recipes

   Shared aroma: guaiacol (smoky, sweet).

2. Mustard + allspicetop 2% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together1,928 recipes

   Shared aroma: methyleugenol (clove, spice).

3. Turmeric + mustardtop 3% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together2,279 recipes

   Shared aroma: guaiacol (smoky, sweet).

4. Turmeric + allspicetop 3% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together629 recipes

   Shared aroma: eucalyptol (eucalyptus, herbal).

5. Cabbage + mustardtop 3% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together1,645 recipes

   Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).

Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs

What each ingredient does

Cabbage

Forms the bulk of the relish and softens into a tender, spoonable texture as it cooks.

Green tomatoes

Add tartness and body, and their pectin helps the mixture thicken as it simmers.

Onions

Contribute savory depth and aroma that builds during the simmer.

Sugar

Sweetens the sauce and balances the sharpness of the vinegar and green tomatoes.

Vinegar

Provides acidity that preserves the sauce and gives it its sharp, tangy character.

Red pepper

Adds mild sweetness and color to the sauce.

Swap the tomato

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (cabbage, onion, pepper, turmeric, celery, mustard, allspice):

1. Horseradishfits better
2. Turnipfits better
3. Broccolifits better
4. Tomatothe original

Fit is the average pairing score against cabbage, onion, pepper, turmeric, celery, mustard, allspice. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.